Tag Archive: Keep

January 26th, 2012
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Energy-Efficient LED Lights Help to Keep Green RV Moving


San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 09, 2012

Elemental LED, A San Francisco Bay Area based LED lighting company, announced that it is a sponsor of On the Green Road, a recent project by Bay Area-based environmentalists Cece Reinhardt and Brenda Daugherty who retrofitted a 2003 Airstream so that it could operate sustainably off the grid. Elemental LED outfitted the Airstream with LED lighting inside and out, which is integral to keeping the Airstreams energy-consumption low. Reinhardt and Daugherty have now been on the road with the green RV for four months.

Reinhardt and Daugherty aim to travel around the U.S. in the retrofitted Airstream hauled by a bio-fueled Dodge Ram. They are currently holding open houses, attending conventions, and educating the public about sustainable living along the way. So far their travels have included Santa Cruz CA, Ashland OR, Tucson AZ and Austin TX. On the Green Road will be hosting an open house outside Elemental LED headquarters in Emeryville, CA on March 3, 2012.

The LED lights on the green RV work in conjunction with two solar panels installed on the roof of the Airstream, and a battery with a monitor so Reinhardt and Daugherty can track their energy use.

The LEDs hardly budge the battery charge at all, reports Reinhardt from the road in Comfort, Texas. The most common comment we get from visitors is how strong the amount of light is and how soft and natural the quality is. People seem to think that LEDs are aggressive and not attractive, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Visitors are excited to learn about alternatives to CFL and incandescent lighting.

The interior of the RV is outfitted with dimmable LED strip lights and diffusers in the kitchen, dinette, bathroom and reading areas. We love using the dimming light strips; they offer wonderful mood lighting without the glare of being in our direct line of sight, says Reinhardt. LED puck lights on 12V dimmers create general area lighting throughout the interior of the RV.

Waterproof color-changing LED strip lights outfit the exterior of the RV, creating a dramatic glow on the Airstreams metal finish during the evenings. The outside waterproof lights add great night lighting. They are currently set to green and we used them every night in December to be in the holiday spirit, added Reinhardt.

Other green components that Reinhardt and Daugherty used to retrofit the Airstream include earth plaster walls and ceilings by American Clay, a composting toilet by Natures Head, Vida cork planks and natural linoleum flooring, Paperstone and natural linoleum counter tops, and Madagascar Ebony Echo Wood veneer cabinets by Hardwoods Inc among others. Their 2006 Dodge Ram is fueled with waste vegetable oil.

Elemental LED teamed up with On the Green Road in 2010 when Reinhardt and Daugherty were beginning the Airstream retrofit. It has been amazing to see an outdated 2003 Airstream gutted and transformed into a sustainable living space. It is definitely an eco-travelers dream and I am proud that Elemental LED played a part in the transformation, says Elemental LED Marketing Manager Charlotte Dick.

To learn more about Elemental LED, please visit http://www.elementalled.com. To learn more about On the Green Road, please visit http://www.greenrvlife.com.

About Elemental LED:

Elemental LED is where style meets sustainable lighting. Elemental LED offers a wide selection of LED lighting products for home and business owners, including LED strip lights, light bars, puck lights, wall washers, light bulbs, controllers, power supplies and more. Products include dimming, color-changing and waterproof functionality. Elemental LED offers in house engineering and comprehensive customer service and education, from live phone support to online tutorials. LED lighting technology is the safest, hippest, and most energy efficient way to light up the world. Learn more at http://www.elementalled.com.

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December 1st, 2011
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Grainger Sheds Some Light on the Lights Laws and Debunks Myths that Could Keep Organizations in the Darkish


Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

As 2011 begins to come to an end, it is a good time for businesses to evaluate facility lighting and prepare for the U.S. Department of Energys energy-efficiency legislation that will go into effect in 2012. The legislation will mandate that lighting manufacturers cease the production of non-efficient lighting and related products, which will change the way facilities consume energy and maintain lighting. Grainger, North Americas leading broad line distributor of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products, debunks seven myths surrounding the lighting legislation and outlines some tools and resources that can help businesses ease into the transition.

There are plenty of myths out there that are causing some confusion and ambiguity surrounding the legislation, which could end up putting some businesses at a disadvantage, said, John McDermott, Brand Strategy Manager, Sustainability, Grainger. The lighting legislation is a unique opportunity for businesses to be more financially and operationally efficient, and facilities should embrace this shift and reap the benefits.

MYTH #1: The legislation wont impact commercial businesses as much as it will impact consumers.

FACT: The legislation will impact both residential and commercial buildings and soon! Effective January 1, 2012, standard 100W bulbs will require an increase of 30-percent in efficiency and can no longer be manufactured for sale in the U.S. The requirements will also apply to 75W (effective 2013), 60W and 40W (effective 2014). For fluorescent tubes and PAR bulbs, lighting that is found throughout most commercial buildings, the legislation is slated to go into effect on July 14, 2012.

MYTH #2: The only monetary return your business will get from making the switch to efficient lighting is the decrease in energy usage.

FACT: While energy and productivity savings from efficient bulbs are an obvious monetary benefit to making the switch, businesses can take advantage of utility rebates that may be available at the state and local level for additional savings. To find out what incentives are available in your area, visit http://www.dsireusa.org/, which lists information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

MYTH #3: All lighting within a commercial facility will require costly retrofits to accommodate the shape and design of energy efficient lighting.

FACT: While a significant amount of lighting that is unique to a commercial building, such as fluorescent tubes and PAR bulbs, will need some kind of retrofit, not all types of lighting will require a full modification. Halogen and incandescent bulbs, for example, can simply be replaced by newer technology, such as CFL and LED bulbs, with no retrofit required.

MYTH #4: Making the switch to energy efficient LED lighting is very expensive and will put a financial strain on your business.

FACT: While LED lighting is more costly than its inefficient counterparts at the onset of installation, the return over time can be significant. Not only can your business experience the cost savings that come with reducing energy consumption, productivity levels may also increase as you will no longer have to address lighting maintenance as frequently due to the longer lifespan of LED replacement bulbs. No-cost resources are available to help you better understand the savings potential for your business such as savings calculators and estimators found at http://www.grainger.com/legislation.

MYTH #5: There is no rush to accommodate the legislation because you can stock up on your current inefficient lighting and wait until you run out — waiting will not add additional costs to your project.

FACT: Like any government incentive programs, the utility rebates that are currently available will not be available indefinitely. To help businesses prepare for the change, many lighting manufacturers and suppliers will also be running promotions and other incentives to purchase energy efficient lighting, which, similar to government incentives, may not be available once consumers and businesses adapt more widely to the legislation and efficient lighting becomes standard. When updating the lighting in your facility, consider taking an approach that will align with your budget and comfort level. For example, start by identifying and changing out those bulbs that do not require a retrofit.

MYTH #6: When evaluating lighting within your facility and determining the best way to approach the process, you are on your own.

FACT: While some facilities may have an in-house expert who is familiar with upgrading to energy efficient lighting, many businesses do not know where to start. There are third parties that specialize in retrofitting and can identify the magnitude of potential savings, layout a plan for the project and even execute the installation and apply for the appropriate utility rebates. An example of such a partner is Alliance Energy Solutions (http://www.alliance-energy.net/), a Grainger company, which assists facilities in adapting to the lighting legislation and helps businesses maximize their energy savings.

MYTH #7: The best way to dispose of inefficient, fluorescent lighting is just to toss it in the trash.

FACT: Because fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, they may pose an environmental hazard when disposed of improperly. The best way to dispose of inefficient lighting is through recycling and if there are no recycling centers or drop-off locations in your local area, you can purchase pre-labeled recycling kits that allow you to mail used bulbs to recycling centers to help ensure proper disposal.

For more information about the lighting legislation and how your business can prepare for the impending changes, visit: http://www.grainger.com/legislation.

About Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2010 sales of $ 7.2 billion, is North America’s leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, with expanding operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America. For more information about the company, visit http://www.grainger.com/investor.

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